Ozaukee/Washington

In revote, West Bend board OKs Gay-Straight Alliance

West Bend - The West Bend School Board voted Monday to sanction a Gay-Straight Alliance student club at East and West high schools, rescinding an earlier decision to deny the group.

By a 4-3 vote the seven-member board reversed a decision in May to deny club status to the group, which would have prevented it from using the schools' public address system, posting club-related information at the schools, using the schools' equipment and resources, raising funds for club activities and inclusion in the schools' yearbooks.

That vote reversed a 3-3 vote on May 9 to block the club, action that prompted a federal lawsuit.

The students' lawsuit alleges board members violated a federal law that forbids schools from denying access to their facilities based on an organization's beliefs.

The alliance says its mission is "to combat bullying and harassment through education and advocacy and to provide an emotionally and physically healing learning environment for people of all gender and sexual orientations."

The board vote Monday made the group's approval contingent on the federal lawsuit being dropped.

Waring Fincke, an attorney representing the alliance, previously filed a discrimination complaint with the district. While that complaint was pending, district officials implemented new rules for club acceptance, and school administrators recommended that the School Board accept the group as a club.

The rules state that sanctioned clubs must have a curricular tie, national or state affiliation, student appeal and a volunteer adviser.

West Bend School Board President Randy Marquardt, who earlier voted to deny club status to the GSA, has said the group has been allowed to meet informally at East and West high schools for years.

Marquardt said Monday that he still opposed giving the group club status but said he did not believe a legal fight was in the district's interest, pointing to a legal opinion the board received that the district would lose in court.

He said he felt uncomfortable that his conclusion was the result of the lawsuit.

"I think all of us have been bullied and harassed by the GSA," Marquardt said.

Board member Dave Weigand remained opposed to sanctioning the club. He said the legal fight was warranted to stand with parents who oppose the group on religious grounds.

"I believe the board rescinded this because they just want this issue to go away," Weigand said, adding that he believed the lifestyle represented by GSA is harmful to young people.

Nancy Harris of Kewaskum, the grandparent of an incoming West Bend East freshman, said the board's previous action tainted the entire community.

"The charge of the board is to represent the entire student body," Harris said.